Final answer:
c. Type III survivorship curve A frog species that lays massive numbers of eggs with most not surviving to sexual maturity is described by a Type III survivorship curve, characterized by high juvenile mortality and lower mortality after surviving the early stages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idealized survivorship curve being described for a frog species that lays massive numbers of eggs in the water, most of which will not survive to sexual maturity, is a Type III survivorship curve. This curve is characterized by a high death rate among the young, with very few individuals surviving to old age. In contrast to Type I curves where mortality is higher in older ages and Type II curves where mortality is relatively constant throughout the lifespan, Type III organisms, like many trees, marine invertebrates, and most fishes, produce large numbers of offspring but provide little or no care, resulting in a steep decline in survivorship during the early stages of life.
A frog species that lays massive numbers of eggs in the water, most of which will not survive to sexual maturity exhibits a Type III survivorship curve. Type III organisms typically produce large numbers of offspring but provide very little or no care for them. Very few of these organisms survive their younger years, but those that do make it to an old age are more likely to survive for a relatively long period of time. Trees and marine invertebrates are examples of organisms that exhibit a Type III survivorship curve.